Aliphatic or open-chain compounds are considered in Part 111. and cyclic or elosed-chain compounds in Part IV. The discussion of each homologous series is characterized by the fact that the author has chosen t o deal very extensively with a few typical comoaunds from each series. The historical asoect is also emphasized in these two parts by the introduction of sl,ecial paragraphs discussing the important events in the production of the compounds and their structural proofs. Structural formulas are discussed in same detail and emphasis placed on the reasons for assigning certain atomic arrangements in the molecule. This revised edition contains accounts of same of the newer methods for the preparation of organic compounds. The author also indicates the price (in shillings) of various substances in order t o give the student same idea of the relative value of organic compounds. Brief chapters on hormones, vitamins, and electronic theory have been added. The technical methods cited for producing organic compounds and the discussion of the economics of their production are probably more applicable t o conditions in Great Britain, with which the author is familiar. It is evident that the important industrial methods vary in different countries because of differences in raw materials, sources of power, etc. Hence, the baok does not treat adeauatelv manv of the imoortant industrial processes in use nt the present time in the United States. For example, the author mentions that cthyl alcohol may be produced from acetaldehyde or from ethylene, but states an p. 182 that it is unlikely that these substances will displace starch and sugars as the main source of alcohol. Several pages are devoted to the wood distillation industry, and only one short paragraph t o the carbon monodde-hydrogen reaction for the production of methanol. No mention is made of the fact that this reaction is used t o obtain certain of the hieher alcohols. The omduction of acetone by dehydrogenation of isopropyl alcohol, the many synthetic organic rhcmirals obtainal,lr from ethylene and the production of synthetic rubber-like products, such as duprene. are not discussed. The baok is written in an interesting historical yet logical style. It is well printed and remarkably free from errors. One mistake which was noticed was the statement (p. 148) that only four of the five isomeric amylenes are known. Oceasionally, terms are used loosely. For example, the term polymerization is used in the old historical sense, and not in agreement with modern ideas of this type of a reaction. It is used t o describe the conversion of acetylene to benzene and acetaldehyde to ethyl acetate, but is not used in discussing the relationship of monosaccharides to polysaccharides. The latter are said t o be formed (p. 409) "by a process of repeated anhydride-formation." No mention is made of the fact that the cyclic sugar structures are hemi-acetals, and that di- and polysaccharides are acetals. The hwk is designed for a coune in organic and is one of the best texthwks of the English school.
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of matter; (3) to afford some experience with experimental methods. There are 75 exercises in the manual, which cover 226 pages. A wide range of experiments is offered. I n general, the directions and comments are clearly written and are accurate and adequate. The directions for weighing, however, are inadequate far students doing quantitative experiments. Here and there the manual departs from the order of Deming's "General Chemistry." Thus, the derivation of chemical formulas is taken up in Exercise 17, p. 55; hut in the textbook it is postponed t o Chap. XXXVI, p. 569. I n the manual the goad old term "hydrogen-ion," H*, is still used (p. 97), while in the textbook "oxonium-ion" is used quite consistently (pp. 194 and 520). The second part of the book is devoted t o qualitative analysis. Since the exercises fill 226 pages, the space left for qualitative analysis is reduced to less than 100 pages. The instructions and outlines are clear and to the point, but the theoretical matter is limited. Instructions are given for the separation and identification of the cations, for preparingsolids for analysis, and for testing for the common anions. The reviewer would like to call attention to one error, namely, the statement that arsenic acid in solution is slowly reduced by H.S to arsenious acid (pp. 249-50): HASO, H,S +HAsO, H,O S. This is the old hypothesis of Rose, which was disproved by L. W. McCay nearly a half century ago. [McCAY, Am. Chem. J., 10, 459 (1888).] He has shown that arsenic acid is never reduced by H d directly t o arsenious acid and free sulfur. His experiments have proved that monosuIfoxyarsenic acid (HASOJS) is first formed, which loses sulfur, and {hen interacts with more H d to form As&. These changes may be formulated thus:
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McCay's results have been confirmed by the reviewer. [Fosrw, J , A,, ~ h sot,,, 38, 52 (1916),] ~h~ R~~~hypothesis is in many modern b k s on chemistry, which shows how difficult it is to eradicate error, "Exercises in General Chemistry" a s a whole lays a solid foundation for further work in chemistry. The book is well printed and bound, and is in every way a suitable volume for ~ ~ i chemistry,x ~ ~ s ~ wnr , A - P ~ mncsron
UNIvBas,m
P X N ~ ~ T O NNEW , JBRS~Y
CAEMrSTRY' " R. AND DEvELOPmNT OP Partington, M.B.E., D.Sc., Professor of Chemistry in the
oRIGINs
University of London, Queen Mary College. Longmans. Green and Co., London. New York, Toronto. 1935. xii 597 pp. 15.5 X 24.8 cm. 45 shillings net ($16.50 in U. S. A.).
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This is a hook of a new kind, a history of pre-chemistry, a history of the chemical practices of the ancients which are deducible from the findings of archz?ology. It is much more than an account of the origins and early development of applied CHEMISTRY AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS. chemistry. Dealing primarily with the materials which the E w n c ~ s aIN s GENERAL Horacc G. Denring, Professor of Chemistry, University of ancients used for all purposes, what they were, how they were Nebraska, and Saul B. Arenson, Associate Professor of In- used, where they were procured, etc.. it inevitably makes mention organic Chemistry, University of Cincinnati. Fourth edition. of the trade relations, wars, voyages, etc., which often determined John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1935. xv 326 pp. the spread of knowledge about them. I t is therefore a history of 25 figs. 13.5 X 21.5 cm. $1.80. the arch~ologicalperiod, from 4000 or 3000 B.C. t o about the This manual was first published in 1924. The order of topics beginning of the Christian era, a history of culture in the sense that it supplies an account of what the ancient peoples were is very nearly that of the fourth edition of Deming's "General Chemistry." As stated in the preface, "New experiments have doing. The book is divided into sections which deal respectively with been added on photography and the sensitivity of qualitative tests, and many of the remainimg experiments have been improved Egypt, Babylonia, and Assyria, the a g e a n Civilization, Troy a s the result of experience with our students, or following the and Cyprus, Asia Minor, Persia, Phrenicia, and Palestine. Prosuggestions of other teachers." The chief aims of an elementary fessor Partingon says that he had a t first intended t o include course, according t o the authors, are: (1) to make the student sections on India and China hut abandoned the intention familiar with a few representative types of matter; (2) to reveal "after much material had been collected, partly because these some of the general principles that govern the transformation regions in some way lie apart from the rest of the world in their D B P U T ~ ~OP ~ NcTa ~ m s ~ l l ~ U N N B R ~01 Y ILWNOIS URBAN*.ILUNOIS
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technical processes, hut more particularly because the information a t oresent available seemed insufficient as comnared with that for the othrr regions." Each section is subdivided into portions which treat first of the chranolu~yand general history of the ci\llization, then of its materials. All s~gnifiranlfacts about the materials appear to he reported, chemical analyses and other studies which have been made upon them, and the conclusions which have been reached concerning their preparation and use. The following incomplete list of the subdivision headings in the section which deals with Egypt gives an indication of the contents of the hook, the other sections, subject always to the availability of material, being subdivided in a similar manner.-The Metals in Egypt, Temple Workshops and Libraries, Labour and Crafts, The Production and Uses of Fire, Fuel, Blowpipe and Bellows, Gold, Predynastic and Early Gold, Composition of Egyptian Gold, Stocks of Gold, Asem. Composition of Electrum, Silver, Chesbet. Mafek, Gems, Copper, The Discovery of Copper, Egyptian Mining in the Sinai Peninsula, African Capper, Hardening of Copper, Bronze, Tinned Copper, Sources of Egyptian Tin, Lead, Brass and Zinc. Antimony, Mercury, Platinum Metals, Iron, The Names and Representations of Iron, Sources of Iron, Predynastic Iran in Egypt, Egyptian Specimens of Iron, Steel, Stone, Plaster and Stucco, Bricks, Pottery, Black-Topped Pottery, Glaze and Glazed Ware, Colours of Glaze, Glass, Gilt Glass, Colourless Glass, Blowing Glass, Analyses of Egyptian Glasses, Imitation Gems, Vasa Murrina, Enamels, Pigments, Media, Encaustic Painting. Eye Paint, Salt, Natron, Sal Ammoniac, Alum. Sulphur, Nitre, Textiles, Dyes and Dyeing, Pomade and Ointment, Oils, Manna, Incense and Perfumes, Frankincense and Myrrh, Kyphi. The Mummy, Materials Used in Embalming, Egyptian Medicine, Physicians and Priests, Imhotep, Magic in Medicine, Medical Texts, Woods, Drinks, Beer. Vinegar. Wine, Bread, Leather, Detergents, Ivory, Various Animal Products, Writing Materials, Ink. Partington's b w k i s a work of the first magnitude, one that may some day perhaps he revised or enlarged hut one that need never he rewritten. I t will be indispensable tothestudent of the history of chemistry and to the student of the history of science and culture. The archzologist will wish t o take a copy of it with him to the site of his excavations. The great museums of the world will not wish t o get along without it. The student of economics will be interested in the weight and relative value of the ancient coins, in the gold-silver ratio among the various nations at various times, in the effect of Alexander's conquests upon it, and in the two dark ages of ancient Egypt concerning one of which a text says that "irrigation was neglected, trade was a t a standstill, and cedar wood, grain, gold and charcoal were lacking." The teacher of chemistry will find in the hook much material for use in his classes-for example, the bard copper of the Egyptians produced by "under-poling" and deriving its hardness from the cuprous oxide which it contained, or the use of alum for the fireproofingof wooden construction. The casual browser in the hook will find in it much t o stimulate his imagination. The print job is difficult but well done, and the price of the hook, though high, is by no means incommensurate withits value. TENNEYL. DAVIS MASSACROSBTTJ I N J T I T ~OF B TBCANOLOOY CAHBEIDDB, MASSACBVSGTTS
LABORATORY AND WORKBOOK UNITS I N CHEMISTRY.Morris W . Anzes, Chairman of the Department of Physical Sciences, George Washington High School. New York City, and Bernard Jaffe, Chairman of the Department of Physical Sciences, Busbwick High School, New York City. Silver, Burdett and Co., New York City, 1935. Thirty-seven figures, seven important tables, one page of first-aid advice, and one page of cuts identifying 22 pieces of chemical apparatus. I n two forms. The consumable form is paper bound, xii 228 pp. 15 X 26 em. List price, $0.84. The non-consumable formis cloth bound, xiv 240 pp. 14 X 20 cm. List price $1.08.
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This book of sty-one well-organized units is intended to provide laboratory work and study exercises far the student, and demonstrations for the teacher throughout the beginning year of
high-school chemistry. I t is stated that the selection of materials is based on the suggestions and requirements of state and college entrance syllabi, on textbooks and the long experience of the authors as teachers of high-school chemistry. While the book may be used with any high-school text, the order of the units is such as to permit it t o he used very effectively with the text, " N m World of Ckemishy," by Bernard Jaffe ((reviewed in the JOURNAL OP CHEMICAL EDUCATION, August, 1935, page 399). Nearly all the units are organized according to one definite plan: (1) a series of experiments t o be performed by the student in the laboratory or by the instructor as demonstrations; (2) a list of several observations and questions on the experiments, given in a form intended to compel careful thinking on the part of the student; (3) a shorter list of conclusions given in suggestive f o m so that the student must deliberate, classify evidence, and summarize results; (4) a large list of slrpplementary exercises intended to provide practice in the application of the principles involved in the experiments and to test understanding of generalizations derived from the unit; (5) a short list of optional questions intended to provide worth-while extra work for the abler student. The last five units of the hook are intended as exercises in summary and review of some of the most important items of elementary chemistry. Unit 48 consists of several pages devoted t o a review of the methods used in solving chemical problems. One page of directions for the preparation of solutions is fallowed by lists giving exactly the chemicals and apparatus needed for the experiments described in each unit. Additional apparatus needed for demonstration are also given in separate lists. This hook has been very carefully prepared. The authors are clearly fully acquainted with the difficulties of directing highschool laboratory work, and with the hest methods of overcoming these difficulties. The experiments are well selected. The Observations and Questions on Erperimats are true learning exercises, in which the student is farced to look for evidence, t o reason and think his way to correct conclusions as far as possible. The supplementary exercises and the optional questions provide much rich material for testing the student's ability t o apply the principles learned. These materials may also he used in assigning additional work for the faster or abler student. The book may be used t o advantage in classes using either single or double laboratory periods. Experiments which should be used as demonstrations are indicated in only a few cases. I n general, the teacher is permitted t o decide just which experiments should he used a s demonstrations and which should he performed by the students individually. This will enable each teacher to use the book in the way which best fits his needs, his conditions, and his resources. One of the most important parts of the book is Unit 48 (which deals with chemical arithmetic, as mentioned above). This unit is not perfect and some of the methods recommended are more or less mechanical, but much excellent work has been done and other authors will find i t difficult t o equal the unit as a whole. The reviewer highly recommends this hook t o all teachers of high-school chemistry. J. 0. FRANK STATET e ~ c n e a C s o~~moe OSmiOSA. W ~ S C O N S ~ N
A SYSTEMATIC HANDBOOK OF V O L ~ E T R ANALYSIS. IC Flnnci~ Sutlon. Revised by A . D. Mitchell, Scientific Assistant. University of London, and Assistant Editor, Journal of the Chmical Society. Twelfth edition. P. Blakistan's Son & Co., Inc., Philadelphia, 1935. xvi 631 pp. 128 figs. 13.5 X 21.25 cm. $10.00. It is a pleasure to wclcame this (the twelfth) edition of so timehonored a trcatix as Sutton's ' \'olumetric Analysis." seeing that the first issue made its appearance some srvcnty-dd years ago. To pronounce the work "comprehensive" would be resorting t o a mild expression; for, in addition t o the discussion of general principles and the insertion of a number of tables, the authors have treated the following topics: alkalimetry and acidimetry, analysis by oxidation or reduction, analysis by precipitation,
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